looks like I can now take the Punto van (119 emissions) straight through central London without incurring a charge.
Heading South off the bottom of the M1 on Route to Dover, what is the best route through central London and will it be a better bet than the M25, which I have used for years?
It would also save me paying the extra 50p over the car charges on the bridge. I always found this unfair for a small car based van that is dwarfed by cars around it, such as the new mega size Mondeo.
It now seems like justice has been done for my thrift in running this small vehicle and engine and it feels like Ken has given me the `Keys to the City` for cutting straight across on route to Dover and the continent.
But its been 28 years and I assume there have been some changes...
Regards
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Use the M25 : much easier and probably cheaper despite the Dartford crossing charge.
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I'd agree with Espada, except between 2 and 5 am, when the CC doesn't apply anyway. Easier on the nerves and probably cheaper in fuel and wear too.
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Down M1. A406 to join A41 south until St John's wood.
Then EITHER At Swiss cottage, join Avenue Rd. Clockwise round the inner circle of Regent's Park (unless you're a trade vehicle...) East up Euston Rd, South down Gover St/Bloomsbury St. East up Great Russell St. S down Bloomsbury Sq, East up Bloomsbury Way/Vernon Place. East up Theobald's Rd. Awkward moment... North up King's Mews/N Mews, join Gray's Inn Rd; High Holborn, Charterhouse St, South down Farringdon St. Over Blackfriars bridge, East up Union St, south down Gt Suffolk St, East up Copperfield St, past Borough tube
OR down Park Lane, round the ringroad, constitution hill, Buckingham Gate, Horseferry rd, Lambeth bridge, Borough Rd, Borough High St
FOLLOWING WHICH, down Long Lane, Abbey St, Jamaica Rd, NORTH through Rotherhithe tunnel (trust me), West up A13 for 200 yards, turn left and left to go through the Limehouse Link, SOUTH through Blackwall tunnel and onto the A2.
If after 3pm, then use M25 as Jamaica rd will be solid and going through the east end will slow you down hugely.
Edited by Mapmaker on 14/02/2008 at 15:02
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Well i thought i like my late dad could cut my nose off to spite my face, and i'm glad to see that you're cut from the same cloth o oily one (you don't originate from the wolds of Cheshire by any chance?)
And i've got the strangest feeling in my water that Mapmaker may be having a larff.
If you really feel that you wan't to save the Dartford crossing toll (eeh by 'eck them folk from East Yorkshire give a new meaning to frugal, noww then), and i'm wondering why you arn't coming down the A1 and then down A14 and M11 but then as the punto passion wagon may have other reasons to be going M1 way, and its none of my business anyway, so nurrh!
Anyway you could continue down M11 to the end and either go over Woolwich ferry (that can queue sometimes, but makes a change) or turn right onto A13 for couple of miles and then left under blackwall tunnel and straight down A2/A20/M20.
Alternatively, slip down into fords at dagenham, go straight through the works and to their own dock, and assuming you coincide with one of their export boats, you could slip on unseen, and then when out in mid channel pull the communication cord and hopefully they'll let you off at Sheerness, then its straight onto the A2.
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Thanks for all that !
You`re right GordonBennet, I have to drive through central London because of the alleged injustice of the extra 50p on the bridge.
Thought I could also give it a good blast in first going round the Buckingham Palace roundabout and Whitehall to clear all the soot out.
From West Yorkshire ;)
Regards
Edited by oilrag on 14/02/2008 at 16:12
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>>Mapmaker is having a larff
No, Mapmaker is deadly serious. I know there are three river crossings, but they're all free. If anybody has a better (quicker) route for crossing town then I'd like to hear it. It's the result of years of research.
I agree with the M11 route, but I'd go A12 rather than A13.
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You may not be having a laugh Mapmaker (although I'm not sure you aren't) but the route you describe would be a fair old nightmare especially for any non-Londoner even in the middle of the night. In the daytime the CC makes all roads surrounding the zones horribly congested in new and awful ways, exacerbated by carp road changes.
Unless you know your route well, I would always advise bypassing London on the M25. Believe me, 50 miles of busy motorway is a lot more relaxing than 20 miles of London traffic when all you want to do is get through to the other side.
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>>fair old nightmare especially for any non-Londoner
Yup. OP however is DETERMINED to take advantage of free CC. So there doesn't seem much point in saying M1, A41, Ring Road, A2, Kent... which is the only route he has a cat's chance in hell of achieving.
The other thing is that a nice complicated route like that will put other BRers off our delightful city ;)
I'm happy to race somebody else if they think they have a better route! What's your suggestion?
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Wouldn't dream of it Mm. Back in the 70s perhaps, when I was in training for that sort of thing and you could go quickly... Now, to get to Croydon say from here in NHG, I would take the M40, M4 or A3 to the M25 and zip round that way. It really is quicker and less hassle than going straight, although it's up to 45 miles instead of about 15.
Edited by Lud on 14/02/2008 at 17:12
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Croydon??? I'd go to London Bridge and catch the train. No point in driving there - even at 7am on Christmas day.
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No trains on Christmas day Mapmaker...
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No, indeed not. Still no point in driving to Croydon. Anyway, haven't you anything better to do on Christmas day than go to, of all places, Croydon?
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